UTMB: Robert Hajnal’s second place at the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc was no accident – he targeted it for years
Robert Hajnal has been thinking about making the podium at the French race since he first visited five years ago
“Why is he running in … hiking trousers?” asked a Chinese television commentator as a beaming Robert Hajnal, Romanian flag on his shoulder, waded through the crowds, just seconds from the end of his Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) adventure. “This does not look very cool.”
The owner of the long trousers was Robert Hajnal. He caught everyone by surprise as it was not Jim Walmsley, Kilian Jornet, Zach Miller or Tim Tollefson who reached Place du Triangle de l’Amitié, the finish of the 170km Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, in second place.
Hajnal finished 40 minutes behind Xavier Thevenard, France’s three-time UTMB champion.
During the race Hajnal steadily climbed the rankings while the big names tumbled. Some in Chamonix dismissed the Romanian as a lucky beneficiary of others’ misfortune: “He should not be where he is,” was one verdict.
Remarkably, the 29-year old soldier only started running five years ago and, unlike many well-established stars of ultra running, he spoke with disarming directness, warmth and a willingness to poke fun at himself.